Thinking Thursday and Feedback Friday

Dear Parents:
Pumpkins led us in all kinds of learning directions this week.  We created our pumpkin decomposition jars on Thursday.  Students made predictions about the slowest and fastest rates of decomposition based on contents within the jars.  They will be using their field scientist skills to watch and record what they see and to ask questions and make inferences about the process.

student predictions based on observations and background knowledge

Students sketches, observations, questions and inferences

The seeds and the pumpkin allow students to use their math skills for estimation and measurement

Thank you Clare for sharing another organic fruit in various stages of decomposition.  Can you tell which decomposers are at work?

On Friday students moved to the prototype stage of our design challenge with Mrs. Sayani's class to create biodegradable packaging for snacks.  This challenge promotes teamwork and critical thinking about the impacts of our actions on the creation of waste.  It is great to see how the students are stretching their minds to come up with alternative packaging choices that are less harmful and wasteful than one-use plastic.  Here are some photos of students engaging in radical collaboration to build their  prototypes:

We are constructing our rubric together so that students can assess and evaluate their designs and prototypes.  Each of the stages of the design thinking cycle are included with specific criteria.  

Here are two videos for you to learn more about the design thinking process and to see that it is indeed a 21st century thinking framework :

The Launch Cycle - A design thinking framework for K-12 Students

What is Design Thinking?

Here are some student quotes about design thinking:  

Stay tuned for the test stage next week.  Students will have to test for strength,  sustainability for quantity and weight of snack.  Ultimately designs will be evaluated for biodegradability.